Opening for the 7.7mm Types 97 machine gun mount is produced by slide-mold technology

Turret ring molded w/intricate details

4-directional slide-molded upper hull w/river detail

Slide-molded lower hull molded w/details

Both front and rear fenders made by slide-mold technology

Slide-molded lower glacis plate features rivet details

Separate tow hook

Hatches with photo-etched parts can be assembled open/closed

Cupola ring made by slide mold

Hatches on glacis plate can be assembled open/closed

Hatches on upper hull can be assembled open/closed

Vision port cover can be assembled in either injection-molded plastic or clear parts

Intricate ventilator cover can be assembled open/closed

Photo-etched mesh added to ventilators' cover

Hollowed exhaust pipe w/photo-etched exhaust cover

Red hull details accurately produced

Smoke grenade launcher fitted on the side of the turret

One-piece 37mm Type 94 gun barrel

Detailed stowage box included

Sharply produced on-vehicle tools

Intricate 7.7 mm Type 97 machine gun produced in separate parts

Holes molded on gun barrel made by slide-mold technology

One-piece DS tracks reproduced

Dragon introduced an exciting new 1/35 scale Type 95 "Ha-Go" Early Production in 2012 and it was an instant hit. Now one more family gem is coming this year. This time it's a Hokuman version, with 'Hokuman' being the Japanese term for northern China. This Type 95 light tank was used in northern China in combat against Soviet forces. Weighing just 7.4 tonnes, the "Ha-Go" was designed primarily as an infantry support weapon. Indeed, it was the most common light tank used by the IJA, with about 2,300 units manufactured. It had a crew of three, and the main armament was a Type 94 37mm gun. Its maximum speed was 45km/h.

Although it's a small vehicle, Dragon's new 1/35 scale kit is brimming with detail, something facilitated by the widespread use of slide molds. In fact, every single sprue employs slide molds, which is an astounding achievement! For example, the turret is of single-piece construction, with the multi-directional slide mold allowing the rivets to be rendered. The lower hull comes as one piece and has the correct armor panels and bolts on it. The upper hull is also one piece. This kit includes all the new parts needed to create a Hokuman version. Perhaps the most obvious difference is the bell crank suspension, which appears 'upside down' compared to the previous kit, while a new third small wheel is included within the bogies. Also new is a different machine gun. This extremely exciting subject from Dragon now allows modelers to produce a Japanese tank fighting against the Soviet tanks!